I will be leaving this Friday and returning on a Thursday if everything goes as planned!

I wish! If I could get time of work I would. I think it will be a great ride. One day I will do it. Please let us know how it goes and any tips/tricks you pick up along the way would be much appreciated.

yep, i'd be coming too if not for pesky things like paying the bills......

having toured a bit down that way i feel compelled to echo stuart's comment re water. between pemberton and walpole the only place to get water is at Shannon River campsite. As i recall the last time i was there (2007, not on the PAP) the water was from a dam and a bit turbid. I'd go the other way through Northcliffe and fill up there too (there are potable taps opposite the shops along the railway), the cafe there did awesome hamburgers.

if you're following the PAP route between albany and Gnowangerup this section is pretty open ie wheat and/or canola paddocks all around, so pretty exposed on a hot day. you may be able to get water at the Kamballup store (if it's open, good hamburgers there too!) and water at the campsite tanks at the Stirling Range National Park - the signs say you must boil the tank water before use.

have a great time mate. i've toured with a BOB and reckon they're the ducks nuts, but just watch you don't take too much stuff just because it fits. every gram is sacred on those hills.

cheers

glen

PS photos or it didn't happen

"We have thousands of miles of cycling infrastructure, we just need to get the cars off them....." US advocate

Day 1 - Perth-Busselton, difficult, 39 degrees day, 240km (stayed at PBF's house)Day 2 - Busselton through Nannup (no civilization for 60km)/Pemberton(no civilization for 70km) and managed to do 80km of Pemberton to Walpol (camped in the bush)(no civilization for 120km), very difficult section, HILLY and warm, 220km.Day 3 - Walpol/Denmark/Albany/Mt Barker, not too bad, hilly, windy and rainy, some road trains made it more interesting. Broke a spoke in Mt Barker and was in trouble, read on if you want to know the outcome , 200kmDay 4 - Albany to Mt Barker again, through some small towns up to Katanning, best section, quite flat and nice roads, lost another spoke in Katanning, 200km.Day 5 - Katanning to Boddington, not too bad, warm day, road trains!! 170km without rear brake and 1 spoke.Day 6 - Boddington to Perth, very warm, road to Armadale was hilly but after doing SO many hills i was actually enjoying the hills more and more, 130km, still without a rear brake and 1 spoke.

General suggestions for people that would like to do it:

I did it on my own, probably not the best idea.Do more research, especially find out how far the petrol stations are from each other. On 1 section i ran out of water/food and it was a very hot day too.Take a GPS or some kind of tracker so if oyu get lost in the middle of nowhere people know where you are, i didint have any.Carry extra spokes/spoke tool.Invest in a rear view mirrors so you can prepare yourself more when a road train approaches from behind, i did not have one, had 2 close calls.Carry a LOT of water. I learnt this point after day 1 so loaded with more water/powerade/chocolate/jelly snakes.Carry a proper map, i only took an excell spreadsheet print out with VERY basic directions.Carry a debit/eftpos card, i forgot mine and was conctantly worried about not having enough money!Do less km per day, ~200km of hard pedaling a day is a lot with a loaded bicycle, this trip was more of an endurance and pushing myself to the limits but next one i would do in more days.Take a spare set of ass cheeks!

A BIG thanks to Scott (aka PBF) for helping me out in Busselton, offering me a warm bed, food and advices on my route, event lent me his camelback, good to know there are decent people out there.Also a BIG thanks to Grant (Scott's friend)/Daniel for helping me out in Mt Barker where my bicycle was unrideable, also offered me a warm bed, food and transportation back to Albany to get my bicycle fixed, hence i had to cycle from Albany to Mt Barker twice

I find my touring day's distances range from 40-60kms when in very steep terrain, rugged roads or with frequent tourist diversions; through to 70-80kms for a typical day; right up to 120-130kms for days with very favourable conditions. For me, 200kms a day is not a tour, it's an Audax challenge ride. I probably carry more creature comforts on tour than you might have.

polishbiker wrote:Do less km per day, ~200km of hard pedaling a day is a lot with a loaded bicycle, this trip was more of an endurance and pushing myself to the limits but next one i would do in more days.

Sometimes it is fun to push yourself to the limits. Doesn't mean you have to do it next time though. More relaxed rides can be fun too!

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